Thomas Wesley Pentz (born November 10, 1978),^[1] better known by his stage name Diplo, is a Philadelphia-based American DJ, producer, and songwriter. Together with DJ Low Budget, he runs Hooked on Hollerphonix, a club and music collective. He also founded and manages record company Mad Decent, as well as the not for profit organization Heaps Decent. Among other jobs, he has worked as a school teacher in Philadelphia.

During his rise to notability, Diplo worked with British musician M.I.A., an artist who is credited with helping expose him in his early career. Later, he and fellow M.I.A. producer Switch created a Jamaican dancehall project titled Major Lazer. Since then, Diplo has worked on production and mixtape projects with many other notable pop artists, such as Beyoncé, No Doubt and Usher.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} His alias, short for Diplodocus, derives from his childhood fascination with dinosaurs.^[7]

Career[link]

DJ and Hooked on Hollerphonix[link]

Born in Tupelo, Mississippi and raised in various regions across Southern United States, Diplo developed an interest in much of the local culture.^[8] He began attending the University of Central Florida in 1997, and then moved to Philadelphia to continue his studies at Temple University, where he first gained notoriety as a DJ.^[9] After frequently running into fellow DJ Low Budget, the two began throwing parties under the Hooked on Hollerphonix moniker in 2003 as a way of maintaining control of what they were able to play during DJ gigs in Philadelphia.^[3] The success of these parties allowed the two to release mixtapes, both separate and together, gathering acclaim across the country.^[10] One such mixtape, Never Scared, was named one of the New York Times' top ten albums of 2003,^[11] and the Hooked on Hollerphonix name became synonymous with parties featuring guests like Bun B, Spank Rock, M.I.A., among others.^[12] Hooked on Hollerphonix's sound has been described as "disparate genres to be smashed together for maximum attention-grabbing impact" an aesthetic which takes from the "organic, cohesive, whole" aesthetic of acts such as Bun B, Lil Jon, Drama, M.I.A., Björk, Busta Rhymes, and others.^[5][13]

Diplo accentuated the club aesthetic of his Hooked on Hollerphonix music for a more reflective sound on his solo debut, Florida, which was released on the Ninja Tune imprint, Big Dada Records.^[14] The album Florida was pressed twice, first with a CD and the second with a CD and DVD. The DVD was created by System D-128, another artist who has collaborated with Diplo on some audio and video projects. Before Florida’s DVD accompaniment, another DVD surfaced called Diplo: "Banned in Libya" which was released by Money Studies, the first label to release a solo project by Diplo under his original DJ name Diplodocus. It was a 45 rpm record called "Thingamajawn" for which there is also a music video System D-128 directed. Similar to the Florida DVD, "Banned in Libya" is an experimental audio and video mix of some of Diplo's original music blended with a number of other unidentified sources.

His particular affinity for one genre of music called baile funk (or favela funk) would spawn a series of mixtapes (Favela on Blast, Favela Strikes Back), which served to bring the Brazilian dance music of the ghettos to the United States.^[10]

It was not long before his Hooked on Hollerphonix parties would provide him the success necessary to move to the next logical step and build a studio where music would become his full-time focus. With this goal in mind, Diplo built "The Mausoleum," a video studio, recording studio, record label office, gallery, and event space in Philadelphia.^[15] Since its inception, The Mausoleum has become the home to recordings by artists like Christina Aguilera, Shakira, M.I.A., Santigold, Spank Rock, Plastic Little, Blaqstarr, Paper Route Gangstaz, and hosted concerts by Glass Candy, Skream, Boys Noize, Nicos Gun, and more.^[15]

M.I.A.[link]

After hearing one of his songs in 2004, M.I.A. approached Diplo when he was DJ'ing one night at the Fabric Club in London. Regarding their first meeting, M.I.A. said "It had that same homelessness about it. It didn't have a particular genre, which is what people always say to me: Your song doesn't fit anywhere. So I went on a mad mission to find other people like that, because then we could make a home."^[16][17] Coincidentally, Diplo was playing her songs "Galang" and "Fire Fire" as she entered the club, which he got from a worker at i-D magazine.^[17][18] Diplo added, "She came through and she wanted to meet me 'cause she'd heard my single and the funk mix from one of her A&Rs and she just thought I was right up her alley. Besides me being a white dude from Florida and her being a Sri Lankan girl in England, everything else was the same: [We were both] film graduates, [listened to] all the same music when we were kids, were going in the same direction right now in music, it was amazing... I always wanted to make a beat with her, but all my beats were really shitty at the time."^[18][19] The two eventually collaborated on a mixtape, Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol. 1., where Arular track acapellas were mashed with other artists' songs and was mentioned as ‘Albums of the Year’ from the New York Times and Pitchfork Media.^[18][20] At this time it is rumored the two became romantically involved and continued to work together after the release and he toured as a DJ on her 2005 Arular Tour.

Diplo would continue to work with M.I.A. and, through her, meet London DJ Switch; together they created the Grammy nominated track ‘Paper Planes’, peaking at No.4 on the Billboard US Hot 100.^[21] Diplo would go on to release a slew of similarly styled mixtapes with Downtown Records’ Santigold and Polydor Records’ La Roux, as well as mixtapes with Paper Route Gangstaz, Das Racist, and Gucci Mane.

Producer and Mad Decent[link]

From this, Diplo went from an unknown DJ to taking off as a producer, landing him collaborations with artists like Shakira, Robyn, Kid Cudi, Bruno Mars and Snoop Dogg, as well as work with Maluca, Kid Sister, Die Antwoord, Alex Clare, Rolo Tomassi, Amanda Blank and Dark Meat. After taking a trip to Brazil to investigate the Favela music scene,^[3] and fascinated with the energy the scene had to offer, Diplo decided to import a dance-funk group Bonde do Role from Brazil for release on his Mad Decent record label (also housed within ‘The Mausoleum’).^[22] This group would serve to define Baile Funk in the United States, spawning a host of others to join the movement. Diplo also spent some time documenting the music, and the favelas of Brazil^[23] with a film he produced and directed called Favela on Blast.^[24]

Although Favela Funk remained an interest (the Favela on Blast documentary just saw release in 2009), his Mad Decent imprint would serve as a blank palette for Diplo to showcase the myriad different sounds he’d come across while touring around the world.^[9] Diplo quickly developed a reputation for his extensive touring. In the April, 2010 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine Diplo was touted as one of ’40 Reasons to be Excited About Music’.^[25] This kind of jet setting pushed his label far beyond the Favela Funk genre with which it initially began. Since founding it in 2005^[26] Diplo’s Mad Decent label has released music by Santogold, Lil’ Jon, Gucci Mane, Peter Bjorn and John, Bosco Delrey, Rusko, Buraka Som Sistema, Savage Skulls, Oliver Twizt, Jamie Fanatic, Douster, Boy 8-Bit, and Popo.^[27][28] Beyond the scope of their own releases, there is Mad Decent Worldwide Radio, a mixtape/podcast series showcasing artists who have seen release on Mad Decent, but also many more who may have caught the attention of the label.^[29] Additionally, Diplo and Mad Decent have put together an annual block party, showcasing talent from the label. While the first three years of the festival only occurred in the label hometown of Philadelphia, 2010 saw the party spread to include Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.^[30] He also produced mathcore band Rolo Tomassi's sophomore album, Cosmology.

In 2011, Diplo worked with Beyoncé on "Run the World (Girls)" and the album track "End of Time" for her fourth studio album 4. He also worked with Girls Aloud member Nicola Roberts on her debut solo single "Beat of My Drum". In 2012 Diplo produced for Usher on the single "Climax" which Usher released on his Facebook page. He also produced the track "Lies" on Marina and the Diamonds' second album Electra Heart, released 30 April 2012.

Major Lazer[link]

Although highly sought after to create productions for other artists, Diplo’s focus soon turned to another collaborative project with Switch, this time in the form of a full-length record under the guise Major Lazer. After landing a deal with Downtown Records before even recording a note of music, Diplo & Switch set out for Jamaica to record a project that, like most of Diplo’s projects before it, would highlight the little-known subgenres, this time of Jamaica’s dancehall scene.^[21] The two received support by many already established Jamaican artists such as Vybz Kartel, Elephant Man and Ms. Thing, and the resulting record Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do also featured vocals from Santigold, Amanda Blank, Nina Sky, Ricky Blaze and more.^[31] When discussing the Major Lazer project, Diplo described the dancehall sound as being " the end of the world, all the little influences—house, soca, oldies, R&B, jazz—it all ends up in Jamaica."^[32] The track "Pon De Floor" (originally sampled from Afrojack's "I'll be there") from Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do was sampled for Beyoncé's single "Run the World (Girls)".^[33]

Major Lazer's first album was followed up with an EP, Lazers Never Die, which was released in 2010. An as yet untitled album is also due to be released by Major Lazer in 2012.

Major Lazer played at Notting Hill Carnival, London CF, in 2010 and have confirmed they will be there again in the summer of 2011.

Additional Projects[link]

Beyond Major Lazer and Mad Decent, Diplo has continued to show support for 'all the little influences', the lesser-known music scenes around the globe. Most recently his focus shifted to the ‘Bounce’ scene in New Orleans, Louisiana for a television piece commissioned by Current.tv.^[34] In 2007 Diplo also founded a not-for-profit organization for the underprivileged in Australia, called Heaps Decent.^[35] As Diplo has throughout his career as producer and DJ, the organization’s focus is to integrate indigenous and underprivileged artists’ music into a wider spectrum of recognition through original productions created via schools, juvenile justice centers, and studios.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Sound and Fury (2002)
• Florida (2004)
• Decent Work for Decent Pay (remix compilation) (2009)

EPs and Singles[link]

• "Newsflash" (2003) (as Diplodocus)
• "Epistemology Suite" (2003) (as Diplodocus)
• "Thingamajawn" (2003) (as Diplodocus)
• "Diplo Rhythm" (2004)
• "Reload It" 2005 (as Diplo)
• "Blow Your Head" 2008 (as Diplo)
• "C'Mon (Catch 'Em By Surprise)" (vs. Tiesto featuring Busta Rhymes) 2010 (as Diplo) UK No.13
• "Make You Pop (Vs Don Diablo)" 2010 (as Diplo)
• "Amplifier (with Skrillex)" 2011 (as Diplo)
• "Pick Your Poison (with Datsik and Kay)" 2011 (as Diplo)
• "El Tigeraso" with Maluca 2011 (as Diplo)
• "Express Yourself feat. Nicky Da B" (as Diplo)

Mixes[link]

• AEIOU (2003)
• AEIOU Pt. 2: Making Music Your Own (2004) (with Tripledouble)
• Piracy Funds Terrorism (with M.I.A.) (2004)
• Favela on Blast (2004)
• Favela Strikes Back (2005)
• FabricLive.24 (2005)
• Mad Decent Radio, Vol. 1 (2006)
• I Like Turtles (2007)
• Top Ranking: A Diplo Dub (with Santogold) (2008)
• Benzi & Diplo Present: Paper Route Gangstaz: Fear And Loathing In Hunts Vegas (2008)
• 2009 Rewind (Mixmag Jan 2010 Cover CD) (2009)
• Diplo Presents: Free Gucci (Best of The Cold War Mixtapes) (2010)
• Major Lazer & La Roux present: Lazerproof (2010)
• Blow Your Head – Diplo Presents: Dubstep (2010)
• Benzi & Diplo Present: Mansions on the Moon: Paradise Falls (2010)
• Riddimentary: Diplo Selects Greensleeves (2011)

Singles[link]

2005[link]

• Disco D – "Lets Hug It Out Bitch (Diplo Remix)"
• Edu K – "Popozuda Rock n' Roll (Diplo Remix)"
• Gwen Stefani – "Hollaback Girl (Hollatronix Remix)"
• Kanye West – "Gold Digger (Diplo Mix)"
• Spank Rock – "Put That Pussy On Me (Diplo Tonite Remix)"
• Three 6 Mafia – "Stay Fly (Mad Decent Remix)"
• Biz Markie – "Vapors (Diplo Remix)"
• Walter Wanderley – "Popcorn (Diplo Remix)"

2006[link]

• Beck – "Wish Coin (Go it Alone)"
• Bloc Party – "Helicopter (Diplo Remix)"
• Clipse – "Queen Bitch (Diplo Remix)"
• CSS – "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above (Diplo Remix)"
• Daedelus – "Sundown (Diplo Remix)"
• Hot Chip – "Over And Over (Shake It Over And Over)"
• Justin Timberlake – "My Love (Diplo Remix)"
• The Beatles – "Twist and Shout (Diplo B'more Edit)"
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – "Gold Lion (Diplo Remix)"

2007[link]

• M.I.A. – "Birdflu (Diplo remix)"
• Claude VonStroke – "The Whistler (Diplo Remix)"
• Daft Punk – "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Diplo's Work Is Never Over)"
• Peter Bjorn and John – "Young Folks (Diplo's Drums of Death Remix)"
• Znobia – "Tchilo (Diplo Mix)"
• Bart Simpson – "Do the Bartman (Bartman So So Krispy Remix)"
• The Decemberists – "The Perfect Crime No. 2 (Doing Time Remix)"
• Bloc Party – "Where Is Home? (Diplo Mix)"
• Black Lips – "Veni Vidi Vici (Diplo Remix)"
• Hot Chip – "Shake a Fist (Diplo Remix)"
• Dark Meat – "Unsuccessful Space Jam (Diplo Mix)"

2008[link]

• Sunny Day Sets Fire – "Brainless (Mad Decent Remix)"
• Spoon – "Don't You Evah"
• Kanye West – "Flashing Lights" (Diplo Remix)
• The Black Ghosts – "Repetition Kills You (Diplo Remix)"
• Marlena Shaw – "California Soul (Diplo Remix)"
• Radiohead – "Reckoner" (Diplo Mix)"
• Telepathe – "Chrome's On It (Mad Decent Remix)"
• PRGz – "Bama Gettin Money (Diplo Remix)"
• Journey to the West – "Monkey Bee (Diplo Remix)"

2009[link]

• Private – "My Secret Lover (Diplo Remix)"
• Britney Spears – "Circus (Diplo Circus Remix)"
• Britney Spears – "Circus (Diplo Alt Clown Mix)"
• Bassnectar – "Art Of Revolution (Diplo Remix)"
• The Dead Weather – "Treat Me Like Your Mother (Diplo Remix)"
• As Tall As Lions – "Circles (Diplo Remix)"
• Feist – "I Feel It All (Diplo Remix)"
• Brazilian Girls – "Good Time (Diplo Remix)"
• MIA – "Paper Planes"

2010[link]

• Sia – "Clap Your Hands" (Diplo Remix)
• Madonna – Hung Up (Diplo Remix)
• I Blame Coco – Caesar feat. Robyn (Diplo Remix)
• Maroon 5 – Misery (Diplo Put Me Out Of My Misery Mix)
• La Roux – Bulletproof (Diplo and Bot Remix)
• Deerhunter – Helicopter (Diplo and Lunice mix)
• Sunday Girl – Four Floors (Diplo Remix)
• Linkin Park – When They Come For Me (Diplo Remix) For DJ Hero 2
• GD & TOP – Knock Out
• Robyn – Dancehall Queen feat. Spoek Mathambo (Diplo and Stenchman Remix)
• Proxy – 8000 (Diplo remix)

2011[link]

• Sleigh Bells – "Tell 'Em" (Diplo Remix)
• The Streets – "Going Through Hell" (Diplo Remix)
• Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne – "Motivation (Diplo Remix)"
• Travis Barker – "Can a Drummer Get Some? (Diplo Remix)"
• Mavado – "Delilah (Diplo Remix)"
• Ceci Bastida – "Have You Heard? (Diplo Remix)"
• Lil Wayne – "Two Shots"
• Chris Brown featuring Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne - "Look At Me Now"
• Wale featuring Big Sean - "Slight Work"
• The Wombats - "Techno Fan (Diplo Remix)"
• Tiesto vs. Diplo featuring Busta Ryhmes - C'Mon (Catch 'Em By Surprise)
• Yelawolf featuring Fefe Dobson – "Animal"
• The Bloody Beetroots - Church of Noise (Diplo remix)
• Julianna Barwick - Vow (Diplo and Lunice Remix)
• Star Slinger featuring Reggie B - Dumbin' (Diplo Remix)

2012[link]

• FKi featuring Iggy Azalea - "I Think She Ready"
• Usher - "Climax"
• Usher - "Climax (Diplo Bouncier Climactic Remix)"
• Usher - "Climax (Flosstradamus and Diplo Remix)"
• Katy B - "Witches' Brew (Diplo Remix)"
• Marina and the Diamonds - "Lies"
• Sleigh Bells - "Demons (Diplo Remix)"

Soundtracks[link]

• ATV Offroad Fury 4 – Tambo, Newsflash (featuring Sandra Melody)
• SSX on Tour – Big Lost, Indian Thick Jawns (featuring P.E.A.C.E.)
• Midnight Club Los Angeles – Wassup Feat Rye Rye (Crookers Remix)

Podcasts[link]

Diplo presents these podcast serials:

• Mad Decent – http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/mad-decent-worldwide-radio/id128879031

References[link]

External links[link]

• Diplo (DJ) at the Internet Movie Database
• Mad Decent
• Diplo's bio on Mad Decent
• Stylus Diplo interview (10/2004)
• Village Voice article (December 2004)
• Philadelphia Weekly article (February 2005)
• Dummy Magazine interview (October 2009
• Interview With The Smoking Section (2/08)
• Interview with ION Magazine (April 2010)
• Diplo and Friends at BBC Programmes

Diplo may refer to:

People

• Ramón Rivero (Diplo), a Puerto Rican actor, comedian and composer
• Diplo (DJ), an American DJ, producer and songwriter

Places

• Diplo, Pakistan, town in Sindh, Pakistan

Publications

• Diplo magazine, British international monthly publication
• Le Monde diplomatique, international monthly publication nicknamed Le Diplo

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Major Lazer
Major Lazer performing at Sasquatch 2011
Background information
Genres	Dancehall, reggae fusion, reggae, hip hop, electro house, daggering
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Downton, Mad Decent, Interscope
Associated acts	Diplo, Switch
Members
Diplo
Past members
Switch

Major Lazer is a musical project by DJ/Producer Diplo. Formerly a collaboration along with DJ/Producer Switch, they parted ways in late 2011.

Background[link]

Switch (left) and Diplo are the producers behind Major Lazer.

Made up of DJs Diplo and Switch, the two were introduced after working with M.I.A.. The duo's first album Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do was released on June 16, 2009, on Downtown Records. It was recorded in Jamaica at Tuff Gong Studios.^[1] Vocalists such as Santigold, Vybz Kartel, Ward 21, Busy Signal, Nina Sky, Amanda Blank, Mr. Vegas, Turbulence, Mapei, T.O.K, Prince Zimboo, Leftside and others contribute guest vocals to the album, as well as additional production from Afrojack and Crookers.^[2] This is the first release to come out of the label partnership between Downtown Records and Diplo's label Mad Decent.^[3] Major Lazer ended a US tour last summer.^[4] The album's first single was "Hold the Line", the video for which, directed by Ferry Gouw, was nominated for a MTV Video Award in the Breakthrough Video category. "Hold the Line" was also featured in the video game FIFA 10. The track "Zumbie" has a music video that features comedian Andy Milonakis.^[5] Music videos for the songs "Pon de Floor" and "Keep It Going Louder" were both directed by Eric Wareheim. Major Lazer performed at the Falls Music & Arts Festival (Lorne, Victoria, Australia) on the December 30, 2009, the Coachella Music Festival in April 2010^[6] they also performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in July 2010 and the Sasquatch Music Festival on Monday May 30, 2011. Live visuals were created by Pomp&Clout. Major Lazer performed at the 2011 Outside Lands festival in San Francisco.

A mixtape with La Roux entitled "Lazerproof" was made available for free download on May 26.^[7] Diplo posted cover art on his Twitpic. It is the character Major Lazer in War Machine's silver suit, Elly Jackson of La Roux in the signature Iron Man suit, and Whiplash, the villain in the Iron Man 2 movie.

On June 20, 2010, the group released an EP titled "Lazers Never Die". It contained two new songs and three remixes, by Thom Yorke and others.

Major Lazer's live shows previously included hype man Skerrit Bwoy^[8] although Skerrit Bwoy left the group in 2012 to pursue religion.

Switch provided production for Beyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)", which sampled "Pon de Floor".

Switch has left the collaborative effort due to "creative differences" as claimed by Diplo. He departed in late 2011. Diplo is now the sole producer behind the project.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do (2009)
• TBA (2012)

EPs[link]

• Lazers Never Die (EP) (2010)
• Original Don (EP) (2011)

Mixtapes[link]

• Major Lazer Essential Mix (available as podcast) (2009)
• Lazerproof (with La Roux) (2010)
• Major Lazer Summer Mix (available as podcast) (2010)

Singles[link]

• "Hold The Line" (2009)
• "Zumbie" (2009)
• "Pon de Floor" ft Vybz Kartel (2009) 125 UK
• "Keep It Goin' Louder" (2009)
• "Jump Up" (2009)
• "Original Don" (2011)
• "Get Free" (2012)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Major Lazer on Myspace
• Major Lazer on Twitter
• Major Lazer's channel on YouTube

"Pon de Floor" is a song by Major Lazer, a collaborative musical project composed of the American DJ Diplo and the British DJ Switch. The single was released in 2009 by Mad Decent and Downtown Records as the second single from Major Lazer's first studio album, Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do (2009). The duo wrote the song and produced it with Afrojack, while Vybz Kartel provided its vocals. "Pon de Floor" is a dancehall and funk carioca song and was positively received by music critics. It appeared on the charts in the United Kingdom in 2010, where it reached number 125. Eric Wareheim directed the music video for "Pon de Floor", which shows people dry humping, and incorporates daggering choreography. The song has been sampled in Chiddy Bang's "Shooter" (2009) and Beyoncé Knowles' "Run the World (Girls)" (2011).

Composition[link]

"Pon de Floor" was written and produced by Major Lazer, made up of Diplo and Switch. It features vocals from Vybz Kartel, and Afrojack provided additional production and mixed the song.^[1] "Pon de Floor" is a dancehall^[2] and funk carioca song.^[3] The song uses a rapid marching snare drums beat and synth riffs.^[4][5] Its hook is a chopped-up vocal line,^[6][7] and according to Josh Heller of Drowned in Sound Kartel's input is "laughing and occasionally shouting 'Major Lazer!'".^[8]

Reception[link]

John Bush of Allmusic lauded the production of "Pon de Floor" and named it a tour de force.^[9] NME's Pete Cashmore called the song "shitfacedly loopy",^[3] while Andy Freivogel from Dusted Magazine noted it as one of the best tracks from Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do.^[5] "Pon de Floor" is used during the video game DJ Hero 2.^[10] "Pon de Floor" entered the UK Singles Chart of 17 April 2010 at number 187.^[11] It later peaked at number 125.^[12]

Music video and live performance[link]

The music video for "Pon de Floor" was directed by Eric Wareheim, and shows people dry humping against a cartoon background depicting suburbia.^[13] It incorporates daggering choreography.^[14] Ted Maider from Consequence of Sound wrote "This song is already fucking whacked, but the video takes it to a whole other level ... 'Pon de Floor' seems equally as offensive as watching porn on hallucinogenic substances."^[15] Major Lazer performed "Pon de Floor" at the Go! music festival at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore in September 2010.^[16]

Cover versions[link]

"Pon de Floor" was sampled in Chiddy Bang's "Shooter", a song on his mini-mixtape, Air Swell (2010).^[17] In 2011, Beyoncé Knowles released "Run the World (Girls)", which contains a sample of "Pon de Floor".^[18] "Run the World" was produced by Switch and The-Dream, and co-produced by Knowles and Shea Taylor.^[18]

Track listing[link]

Release history[link]